AFCON 2021: Africa's Showpiece Wasn’t Just About the Big Name Players, New Footballing Stars Were Also Born

• The African Cup of Nations gave rise to many new stars from the African continent, who impressed with their performances
• While Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy and Mohamed Salah were expected to impress, it was the lesser know stars who shone
• Player values are expected to go up and big clubs are set to come calling for Africa's new crop of stars

The African Cup of Nations may be done and dusted but the performances by certain players will remain a talking point for many years to come.

While all eyes were naturally on stars like Riyadh Mahrez, Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy or Mohamed Salah, it was some of the lesser know players who made a name for themselves.

With the competition officially done, and players returning to the club teams, Sports Brief takes a look at some of the other players who stole the show.

Goalkeeper - Mohamed Abou Gabal

South Africa beams with pride as Egypt assistant coach Roger de Sa celebrates Pharaohs' AFCON final progress

Football

Team - Zamalek

Value - €1,20 million

Mohamed Abou Gabal, also known as Gabaski, went from warming the bench to setting the competition alight. Egypt’s number one goalkeeper, Mohamed El Shenawy, was forced out of their clash against the Ivory Coast with the match heading to penalties. Gabaski stepped up and guided the Egyptian team to victory in the shootout. Gabaski kept his place for the game against Morocco and produce incredible saves in the penalty shootout to help knock out Cameroon. Gabaski played through many of the games with an injury himself but persevered to guide his team to the finals.

Defender - Mohamed Abdelmonem

Team – Al Ahly

Value - €400k

Mohamed Abdelmonem was a name you wouldn’t have heard about, outside of Egyptian football. The 23-year-old was one of the younger players to represent Egypt but proved that he could compete on the big stage. Egypt only conceded two goals during regulation play in the whole tournament and Abdelmonem was even named as the man of the match for his performance against Cameroon. The player has just signed a new deal with Al Ahly as well due to his showing at AFCON, Goal.Com reported.

Video of Khalidou Koulibaly consoling promising Egypt defender Abdoulmoneim drops

Football

Midfielder - Youssouf M'Changama

Team - EA Guingamp

Value - €1,20 million

Debutants Comoros was expected to be the whipping boys of AFCON but the island nation proved everyone wrong. The midfielder, Youssouf M'Changama was a bit part of those eye-catching performances and his freekick against Cameroon is considered the goal of the tournament. While he currently plays in the second tier of French football, M'Changama’s showing will have many clubs sitting up and taking notice. Comoros themselves shot up the FIFA rankings as a result of their AFCON performance. Before the tournament, they were ranked 193rd, now they’re up to 131st.

Forward – Jim Allevinah

Team – Clermont Foot 63

Value - €2,5 million

Gabon’s Jim Allevinah is another player who plays in the French league but who may move on to a bigger club soon. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang testing positive for Covid19 before the tournament started, Gabon was left wondering where the goals could come from.

Egypt goalkeeper Abou-Gabal breaks silence after CAF awarded Mendy AFCON’s best goalkeeper award

Football

Allevinah stepped up a big way and gave defenders plenty to worry about. His performances haven’t been splendid for the country alone, he’s also been impressive for his club. Clermont was promoted to Ligue 1 at the end of last season, for the first time in their history, thanks to Allevinah’s striking ability.

Rio Ferdinand names top African star among 3 best keepers in the world

In other African Cup of Nations news, Rio Ferdinand has named Chelsea shot-stopper Edouard Mendy among the top three best goalkeepers in the world, Sports Brief earlier reported.

Mendy has been in fine form for both club and country since his switch to Stamford Bridge from Lille in the summer of 2020. The Senegal international quickly deposed Kepa as Chelsea's number one after his arrival.

He has since gone on to help the Blues win the Champions League last season under Thomas Tuchel. The 29-year-old added more silverware to his cabinet after he played a key part in Seenag's Africa Cup of Nations glory in Cameroon.